LATEST Soaps.com NEWS

Soap Opera Actors: Where Are They Now?

Our latest column, which Soaps.com will now bring to our readers twice a month, has some updates surrounding the careers of former soap opera stars of daytime's cancelled soaps "All My Children," "As The World Turns," "Guiding Light," "One Life To Live" and "Santa Barbara."

Movie roles are abound, as well as primetime gigs, a stage appearance, a death and more…

Jill Larson joins a family cast in The Foreigner.
Jill Larson played the role of "All My Children's" beloved Opal Cortlandt from 1989 through the reboot into 2013. Though she made a brief return to daytime with a guest role on "The Young And The Restless" as Connie Ross earlier this year, she'll be heading back onstage this month. Working alongside Ken Jenkins (Sgt. Froggy LeSueur), his son Dan (Charlie), Dan's wife Katherine Hiler (Catherine Simms), Dan's son Jesse (Ellard Simms), Larson will play a bed and breakfast manager named Betty Meeks in "The Foreigner." The audience is guaranteed to laugh along through hilarious scenes as Betty mistakes Charlie as a non-English speaking foreigner when Froggy brings him to the B&B to rest. Performaces will run from July 18 through August 3 at the Totem Pole Playhouse at 9555 Golf Course Road in Fayetteville, Pennsylvania. Visit the Totem Pole Playhouse or call 1-888-805-7056 for tickets.

Michael Woods and Erin Sanders as father/daughter duo in Guilty At 17.
"As The World Turns" alum Michael Woods (ex-Alec Wallace, 1999 to 2009, "Passions'" ex-Dr. Ackland, "Guiding Light's" ex-Dr. Jim Reardon, "All My Children's" ex-Kent Bogard) will join forces with "The Young And The Restless'" Erin Sanders (ex-Eden Baldwin, 2008) in Lifetime's world premiere movie "Guilty At 17." Sanders will play Traci, a senior who falsely claims her friend was sexually assaulted by their high school teacher. Woods appears as Don Scott, Traci's father, who becomes concerned for his daughter's safety after discovering she lied for her friend. Tune in Sunday July 20 at 7:00 PM.

Alexandra Chando does Construction.
Who could forget "As The World Turns'" Maddie Coleman, played by Alexandra Chando from 2005 to 2010? The former daytime star is slipping in to her latest alter ego, Colleen, in the February 2015 release "Construction." Three blue collar men feel stuck in a rut and sometimes it simply takes the addition of three good women to make their lives better. Gino Anthony Pesi ("Dallas'" George Tatangelo) and Brooke Nevin ("Chicago Fire") also star.

Messner (Nikki Nelson/WENN.com)

Johnny Messner and David Chisum team up in Checkmate.
Former soap stars Johnny Messner ("Guiding Light's" ex-Rob Layne, 1998) and David Chisum ("One Life To Live's" ex-Miles Laurence, 2007 to 2008) will be hitting the big screen in the upcoming film "Checkmate." Messner will appear as Joey with Chisum as Allen in the film that surrounds six people who find themselves trapped during a bank heist. The slightest move could change the outcome, and it's anyone's guess if their part in the situation is coincidental or based off of a much bigger plan. Danny Glover ("Lethal Weapon" films), Sean Astin ("The Goonies"), Mischa Barton ("The O.C.") and Katrina Law ("Arrow") also star in the 2015 release.

Date night alert! Also, keep an eye out for Messner in the September 2014 release "The Equalizer," starring Denzel Washington. Female fans who want to catch a glimpse of Messner will have no trouble convincing their husbands and boyfriends to watch this action flick!

Don Matheson passes away at 84.
We are sad to report that Don Matheson passed away on June 29 after having been diagnosed with lung cancer ten months prior. The former Detroit narcotics cop turned actor was in his daughter's, actress Michele Matheson ("Mr. Belvedere," "Life Goes On"), Woodland Hills home at the time surrounded by family. Matheson had daytime roles including Cameron Faulkner on "General Hospital" (1975 to 1976), Judge Robert Novack on "Days Of Our Lives" (1987) and Frank Larson on "Santa Barbara" (1988). He also appeared on "Dynasty" for six years as Commander/Frank Carter in the 1980s. Soaps.com sends his family and friends our deepest condolences.

Frank Grillo's Navy Street gets new title and premiere date.
Back in November 2013, Soaps.com reported that former "Guiding Light" actor (ex-Hart Jessup) Frank Grillo had been cast in Navy Street . The series that will premiere on DirecTV's Audience Network on Wednesday October 8 at 9:00 PM has since been re-titled "Kingdom."

Grillo recently posed with a young fan, who loved his new movie "The Purge: Anarchy," as the fan's mom tweeted:

Brandon Routh suits up as another superhero and lands on Arrow.
Brandon Routh started his acting career in 2001 as "One Life To Live's" Seth Anderson. Since then he's landed impressive roles, a major standout one as the lead in "Superman Returns." No stranger to primetime, Routh will venture over to the CW's "Arrow" in a recurring season three role as Ray Palmer/The Atom. Comic fans will remember that the superhero can not only change the size of his body but can change objects as well. TVLine has learned that Roth's character will be the new owner of Queen Consolidated and will be involved in the lives of Oliver (Stephen Amell) and Felicity (Emily Bett Rickards). Tune in for the show's return on Wednesday October 8.